Tooth brush



J. M. JONES May 10, 1938.

TOOTH BRUSH Filed Nov. 13, 1936 IN VENTOR.

Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in means for brushing the teeth, and the same has for its object to provide a simple, reliable and efficient device which is capable of use both for cleaning 5 the teeth and for massaging the gums.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified in which the teeth cleaning means thereof and gum massaging means thereof are associated so as not 10 to detrimentally interfere with each other in their respective operations.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified in which the massaging means thereof serve as 15 shields for protecting the gums against the abrasive action of the bristles and for protecting the bristles of the brushing element against damage when in use.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified in which the massaging members thereof are composed of relatively soft, yieldable material, such as a suitable rubber composition, capable of freely flexing transversely uniformly throughout the lengths thereof for exerting a beneficial action on the gums.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified in which the massaging members thereof are capa- 30 ble of operating upon the peridental tissue or membrane in the interdental spaces.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified in which both the brushing element thereof and the 35 massaging element thereof are coordinated in contour to operate in said interdental spaces without detrimental action on the teeth or gums.

, Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

40 To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends my invention consists in the novel features of construction, and in the combination, connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

5 In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of de-' vice constructed according to and embodying my said invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view thereof on 50 the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan thereof;

Fig.4 is a diagrammatic detail side elevation, d

Fig.5 is a detail view, partly in section, showing 55 a tooth and a portion of the gum and the manof the flexible members.

her of utilizing the device in connection therewith.

Referring to the drawing the device or tooth brush includes the usual handle portion l terminating in the head ll upon which are secured 5 the usual rows of bristles I2 disposed longitudinally along the head II. The brush may contain any number of rows of bristles, and preferably two, or more, as illustrated. The bristles are anchored in the head- II and preferably consist of tufts of hogs hair having properties particularly adapting the same for use in tooth brushes.

In the present invention I provide supplemental means for massaging the gums and for protecting the gums against contact with the bristles when the device is in use. The massaging means preferably comprises a pair of flexible members or strips l3 extending longitudinally of the head ll along said rows of bristles I! at opposite sides thereof. The members ii are anchored or secured at the lower edges thereof to said head II and project outwardly therefrom to form protective shields extending continuously along said head at opposite sides of the bristles l2 and being substantially coextensive in length with the length of the rows I2. The members ii are preferably composed of a soft, yieldable material, such as rubber, and taper in cross-section substantially from. the bases' thereof to the longitudinal free edges H thereof. The members l3 are entirely separate one from the other, spaces being pro.- vided between the same at opposite ends to allow fiexure of the bristles l2 longitudinally. The tapering cross-section of the members ll together with the separated relationship thereof provide structures which are transversely flexible uniformly throughout the lengths thereof.

The longitudinal edges of the members II have a series of scallops or notches it therein rendering said edges of undulate or undulatory conflguration. The bristles II are slightly longer than i the depth of the members l3 so that normally when the device is not in use the bristles extend slightly beyond said undulate longitudinal edges Preferably, the several ends of the bristles I! describe an undulating line or plane corresponding to or substantially in phase with the undulations of the edges of the members l3 but located at a higher elevation, the undulating line described by the ends of the bristles I! being indicated in broken lines at ll. The undulate configuration of the edges ll of the members l3 provide crest portions l8 capable of operating upon or massaging the peridental tissue or membrane in the interdental spaces. ll

By imparting a corresponding undulate configuration to the ends of the bristles, the gums may be eil'ectively massaged throughout by the flexible members IS without danger of the relatively stiff bristles coming into contact with the gums at any point to cause injury thereto. At the same time the brush is always available for cleaning the teeth.

In operation the device is preferably held horizontally and given a vertical wiping movement, i. e. a downward movement relative to the upper set of teeth, and an upward movement relative to the lower set of teeth; one member I3 being effective in one direction and the other member in the opposite direction. In the course of these movements the outer side of each rubber strip l3 and the undulating edge thereof will engage with the gums, and as the device is actuated said members l3 will act upon and massage the gums with a wiping movement. In this operation the high portions or crests it of the undulate edges will engage and follow the gum to points between the teeth and thereby serve to massage the interdental portions of the membrane as the brush is manipulated. Thereafter the brush may be used in the usual manner to brush the teeth.

By my invention I am enabled to provide a device capable of use as an ordinary tooth brush with which is associated means for massaging the gums which means is also capable of shielding the gums from the abrasive action of the bristles when the device is used in cleaning the teeth, and of wiping over the gums tor massaging the same at all points thereof in order to strengthen and harden the same. Said massaging members or shields I; also serve to protect the bristles against injury or breakage.

Having thus described my said invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tooth brush comprising a head, longitudinal rows of bristles on saidhead, and flexible members separate from each other composed of rubber extending longitudinally of said head along said bristles at opposite sides thereof, and having scalloped longitudinal edges, the ends of said bristles and the scalloped edges of said members describing corresponding undulatory lines extending longitudinally of the brush.

2. A tooth brush comprising head, bristles extending from said head and disposed longitudinally therealong, and flexible members extending from said head at opposite sides of said bristles, the ends of said bristles extending beyond the edges of said members, and said edges and said ends describing corresponding undulatory lines longitudinally of the brush.

3. A tooth brush comprising a head, bristles extending from said head, and members extending from said head and along said bristles at opposite sides thereof, and in separated relation to each other, said members being composed of yieldable material and tapering towards the free longitudinal edges thereof, the ends of said bristles extending beyond the edges of said members, and said edges and said ends describing corresponding undulatory lines longitudinally of the brush.

JAMES M. JONES. 

